Russian President Vladimir Putin still doesn't have smartphone

Moscow, Feb 08: On Thursday, at a meeting with scientists and academics Russian President Vladimir Putin made the admission in response to a speech by Mikhail Kovalchuk, head of the Kurchatov nuclear research institute, while travelling in Siberia ahead of March 18 polls in which he is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin.

"You said that everyone has smartphones. But I don't have a smartphone," Putin said, to laughter in the audience. He responded to a comment from Kovalchuk that "everyone has a smartphone in their pocket."

"I personally practically don't use this," Putin said of the internet, adding that members of his staff do get online.

"My hard working day finishes so late, I'm not up to Instagram," he said.